Cellular augmented radar/laser detector

ABSTRACT

A radar/laser emission detector is augmented with a cellular communications capability to provide the capability to share emission detection information amongst drivers to give other drivers even more advanced warning. A network of a plurality of cellular augmented radar/laser emission detector devices may be formed, each having the capability to source the location of radar or laser emission detections to others requesting access to such information, and each being warned when within a proximity of a recent radar or laser emission detection reported by at least one of the plurality of hybrid radar/laser detector devices.

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/289,116 to PITT et al., entitled “Cellular AugmentedRadar/Laser Detector,” filed on Oct. 21, 2008 now U.S. Pat. No.7,764,219, which in turn is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/400,278 to PITT et al., entitled “Cellular AugmentedRadar/Laser Detector,” filed on Apr. 10, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No.7,471,236, which in turn claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication 60/777,541 to PITT et al. entitled “Cellular AugmentedRadar/Laser Detector,” filed on Mar. 1, 2006 the entirety of all ofwhich are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to wireless telecommunications. Moreparticularly, it relates to the combination of cellular communicationtechnology with radar/laser detection technology.

2. Background of the Related Art

Radar detectors are well known, as are laser detectors. Radar detectorsdetect radio frequency emissions in a given frequency range. Laserdetectors detect an impinging laser beam directed toward the detector.

In a popular application, radar or laser detectors are used forautomobiles, and are often quite small and many times are batteryoperated to eliminate the need for power cords. A modern radar or laserdetector can run for 60 to 90 days on two AA 1.5 v cell batteries, sotheir power needs are relatively small. Radar or laser detectors detectthe presence of any of a variety of radar or laser emissions. They warna driver of a vehicle of an impending radar trap by emitting an audibleand/or visible warning indicating the detection of radar impinging uponthe antenna of the radar device. For instance, different audio tones maybe sounded representing each type of detection. Technology attempts toincrease the amount of advance warning given to the driver.

Thus, any given radar detector warns the occupants and particularly thedriver of any given vehicle, some giving more warning time than others.A driver of the vehicle must react immediately to avoid consequencesrelated to being detected by the radar or laser. Ideally, this issufficient time to avoid the consequences, but in many instances it mayalready be too late as at that point the speed of the vehicle may havealready been measured. This is particularly true if the operator of theradar or laser emission is pointing and shooting once the driver'svehicle comes into range.

Vehicles to follow may suffer the same fate, especially since they atbest will not receive any earlier warning of the detection of radar orlaser than did the driver before. This is because a driver is warnedabout emissions that their device detects directly.

There is a need for providing earlier warning to users of radar and/orlaser detectors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a cellularaugmented emission detection device comprises a radar emission detectorelement, and a signal processor to process detection made by the radaremission detector element. Importantly, a cellular front end is indirect communication with the signal processor. A warning is initiatedfrom the cellular augmented emission detection device upon receipt ofinformation over the cellular front end relating to detection of radaremission not detected by the radar emission detector element but ratherby another cellular augmented emission detection device.

In another aspect, a cellular augmented emission detection devicecomprises a laser emission detector element, and a signal processor toprocess detection made by the laser emission detector element.Importantly, a cellular front end is in direct communication with thelaser signal processor. A warning is initiated from the cellularaugmented emission detection device upon receipt of information over thecellular front end relating to detection of laser emission not detectedby the laser emission detector element but rather by another cellularaugmented emission detection device.

A method of passing radar or laser emission data from one radar/laserdetector device to another in accordance with yet another aspect of theinvention comprises augmenting a radar/laser emission detector with acellular front end. A transmission is initiated over the cellular frontend, and information related to detection of radar or laser is passed bythe augmented radar/laser emission detector in the initiatedtransmission.

Another method of passing radar or laser emission data from oneradar/laser detector device to another comprises augmenting aradar/laser emission detector with a cellular front end, and receivinginformation over the cellular front end relating to detection of radaror laser by another radar/laser detector at a time that the radar orlaser emission detector is not detecting emission.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a hybrid radar/laser detector device including cellularcommunications capability, in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 shows a plurality of hybrid radar/laser emission detector deviceseach having the capability to source the location of radar or laseremission detections, and each being warned when within a proximity of arecent radar or laser emission detection reported by at least one of theplurality of hybrid radar/laser detector devices, in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary Cellular Augmented Radar Detector (CARD) localmobile net, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows figurative coverage of the Earth's surface withsuccessively finer grained gridlines, in accordance with the principlesof the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary CARDloc table including identifier, location(latitude and longitude), and optimization indices, in a CARD localmobile net in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a matrix for Primary indices for a CARD nexus thatmaintains a collection of matrices in Random Access Memory (RAM), i.e.,not in a relational database, in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention isn't so much a remedy for a problem with theexisting technology as it is a significant enhancement to the existingtechnology.

Being warned about radar or laser emissions detected by ones own devicegives some advance warning. However, the present invention provideswarnings about emissions detected by other detection devices on the roadahead of the driver. This significantly increases the amount of advancetime of warning, giving the driver much more time to react.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, automaticsharing of emission detection information is provided among drivers ofseparate vehicles by combining or augmenting an otherwise conventionalradar or laser detector with a cellular communication front end. Thismakes it possible for one emission detector device to share itsinformation with other devices, e.g., similarly capable cellularaugmented radar devices.

Modern radar/laser detector devices have very low battery consumptionrequirements and provide some warning of nearby radar and/or laseremissions. Typically these devices emit an audio tone when emissions aredetected. The warning tone is audible within the vehicle so that thedriver (and any passengers) within the vehicle will receive warning.

Modern cellular communication devices have higher battery consumptionrequirements but also have much more powerful batteries. Cellularcommunication devices have the ability, through a wireless network, toshare analog and digital information with other cellular communicationdevices.

A hybrid device in accordance with the present invention preferably hasthe ability to detect both radar and laser emissions, though detectionof only radar emission or only laser emission is within the scope of thepresent invention.

Importantly, the device includes the ability to communicate via acellular network. Such use of the cellular front end is relativelysmall, and wouldn't require any more battery capacity than is alreadyprovided for the cellular device. For instance, communication on thewireless network is preferably performed only when detection of emissionoccurs. Preferably, upon detection of emission, the cellular front endmay be activated to allow the hybrid device to report to an establishedmobile network that detection has occurred.

Receiving devices may be provided with advance warning by polling theirwireless network, e.g., by dialing a central database containing currentdetection information.

The size of the device need not be much bigger than an otherwiseconventional radar detector devices, as a keypad and a large LCD displayas provided by most mobile cellular devices is not required. The hybriddevice need be larger only to include a cellular antenna, and if desiredto include a larger battery, space for the cellular processor card, etc.

FIG. 1 shows a hybrid radar/laser detector device including cellularcommunications capability, in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

In particular, a cellular augmented radar/laser detection device 100 asshown in FIG. 1 provides the capability to share emission detectioninformation amongst drivers to give those drivers even more advancedwarning. The cellular augmented radar/laser detection device 100includes a cellular processor front end 120 together with an associatedcellular antenna 122. The cellular augmented radar/laser detectiondevice 100 also includes otherwise conventional radar/laser emissiondetection components, including a laser emission detector 130, a radaremission detector 137, a battery 132, an emission signal processor 134,and front panel user interface 136 including LCD display and controlbuttons.

Of course, the cellular processor front end 120 and emission signalprocessor 134, and any other components within the cellular augmentedradar/laser detection device 100, may be integrated with one anotherinto a common physical component.

FIG. 2 shows a plurality of hybrid radar/laser emission detector deviceseach having the capability to source the location of radar or laseremission detections, and each being warned when within a proximity of arecent radar or laser emission detection reported by at least one of theplurality of hybrid radar/laser detector devices, in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 2, radar or laser emissions 201 detectedby a cellular augmented radar detector (CARD) device warns the driver ofthat vehicle 202 a via audible tone, but also importantly relays thedetection information digitally 202 b to a cellular network system 200.For instance, in the given example of FIG. 2, relayed detectioninformation is transmitted to other CARD devices 203 a, 203 b via thecellular network 200. The CARD devices 203 a, 203 b then warns theirrespective drivers in those vehicles of the remote detection of radar orlaser by another networked CARD device 100 a. The warning may be viaaudible tone 204 a, 204 b. Preferably, the audible tone 204 a, 204 b isdistinctive from an audible tone otherwise emitted as a result of directdetection of radar or laser by the respective CARD device 100 b, 100 citself.

Ideally, only CARD devices 100 b, 100 c within proximity of the sourceof a CARD device 100 a directly detecting emission of radar or laseremission are notified. This may be accomplished in a number of differentways. For instance, CARD device users with given phone number area codesmay be presumed to be primarily within a given physical area serviced bythose area codes, but this is not at all accurate and can result inerroneous warning. Warning a CARD device owner that another CARD devicehas detected radar or laser emissions is impractical and at the leastannoying if the detection isn't in relatively close proximity.

CARD devices themselves are unable to determine which other CARD devicesare in close proximity. The problem is aggravated because the use ofcellular technology enables CARD devices to communicate with other CARDdevices anywhere in the world.

In accordance with the present invention, Mobile Position Centers (MPCs)are provided in ANSI-41 networks and Gateway Mobile Location Centres(GMLCs) are provided in GSM networks, to enable the capability to findCARD devices within a configurable proximity limit of any “announcing”CARD device (i.e. any CARD device that is broadcasting an emissiondetection warning). Thus, once a CARD device detects emission, itreports via a cellular network to an application that then identifiesother proximate CARD devices via query to an MPC (or GMLC), andtransmits a detection warning message to only the CARD devices that areidentified as currently being proximate to the detecting CARD device atthe time of the detection and query.

MPCs and GMLCs are known and currently in operation to enable locationservices for locating a given mobile device. However, current MPCs orGMLCs do not provide a proximity determination service. In accordancewith the principles of the present invention, location informationavailable from MPCs and/or GMLCs for every querying CARD device providesthe identity of all other CARD devices that are in close proximity tothe querying (and emission detecting) CARD device. This enables theformation of a temporary local “network” based on a current proximity toone another. In this way, CARD devices are able to share emissiondetection information with only those CARD devices that will find theinformation useful and practical.

Thus, practical localized sharing of digital information is accomplishedover a network of physically proximate devices, all of which being partof a global network. This local area network, otherwise called a mobilearea wireless network (MAWN), makes interaction of Cellular AugmentedRadar Detector (CARD) devices practical. Armed with proximityinformation, emission detection broadcasts are transmitted only to CARDdevices in close proximity to the sourcing CARD device.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary Cellular Augmented Radar Detector (CARD) localmobile net, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 3, a “CARD announcement coordinationprocessor” or “CARD Nexus” gateway 300 ensures that CARD announcementsare relayed only to those CARD devices for which the relevantannouncement is pertinent.

The CARD Nexus gateway 300 may be a fully qualified Mobile PositionCenter (for ANSI-41 networks) or a fully qualified Gateway MobileLocation Centre (for GSM networks). The CARD Nexus gateway 300 alsoincludes proximity evaluation logic. In an alternative, more practicalarchitecture, only the proximity evaluation logic is implemented in theCARD Nexus gateway 300. A CARD Nexus interface is implemented with anMPC/GMLC 320 to get the location(s) for each of the operating CARDdevices. The given embodiments show a system utilizing a CARD Nexusgateway 300 that works with a separate MPC/GMLC 320.

The disclosed embodiments prefer that CARD devices that are powered offwill not interact with the CARD Nexus in any way. The disclosedembodiments also presume that any CARD device that is not enabled forcellular broadcast will not interact with the CARD Nexus in any way.CARD devices that are powered on but not enabled for cellular broadcastwould function in otherwise the same manner as otherwise conventionalradar detectors, i.e., they detect radar and laser emissions and emit anaudible warning tone only to the driver and passengers within thevehicle in which the CARD device is mounted.

CARD devices that are powered on and enabled to broadcast via itscellular subsystem periodically connect (z in FIG. 3) to the cellularsystem to allow the CARD Nexus gateway 300 to determine that CARDdevice's current location. The CARD Nexus gateway 300 accesses theMPC/GMLC 320 to determine the CARD's location, and then saves the CARD'sidentity with its newly determined location (hereafter referred to as“CARDloc”) in a relational database for easy retrieval during proximityevaluation.

When a CARD device (e.g., device B in FIG. 3) that is powered ON andenabled to broadcast via its cellular subsystem detects either radar orlaser emissions 301, it issues an emission detection announcement 302.The emission detection announcement 302 is routed through the hostingcellular carrier's core network 303, 304 to the CARD Nexus gateway 300.

The CARD Nexus gateway 300 determines the current location of theannouncing CARD device by interfacing 305, 306 with the MPC/GMLC 320,and then accesses a relational database to identify other CARD devicesin close proximity to the announcing device (C and D but not E).

The term “close proximity” may be predefined by the CARD Nexus systemoperator based on linear distance. Alternatively, close proximity may bedefined on a device by device basis, or even defined within each queryfrom the announcing CARD device to the CARD Nexus gateway 300.

Close proximity may alternatively be defined as a shortest distancebased on length of roads to the announcing CARD device, but thisapproach requires route calculations for each CARD device and thus willbe significantly slow unless the processor of the CARD Nexus is capableof making such route calculations in a timely manner.

The CARD Nexus gateway 300 then issues warnings 307, 308 a, 308 b tothose CARD devices within the designated proximity so that relayedwarnings 309 a, 309 b will alert the passengers of those vehicles.

For the purposes of this invention, close proximity evaluationmethodology is designed for speed of performance during proximityevaluation processing. Thus, the CARD Nexus gateway 300 reduces a CARDdevice's location, represented in decimal degrees of latitude andlongitude, into indices of latitude and indices of longitude within four(4) layers, and makes a simple calculation of a linear distance betweenan announcing CARD device and each potentially proximate CARD device:

1) Primary: tens of degrees (~700 statute mile resolution) 2) Secondary:Degrees (~70 statute mile resolution) 3) Tertiary: minutes (~6000 footresolution) 4) Quaternary: seconds (~100 foot resolution)

FIG. 4 shows figurative coverage of the Earth's surface withsuccessively finer grained gridlines, in accordance with the principlesof the present invention.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 4, seconds of latitude and longitudeyield a grid whose vertices are approximately 100 feet apart at theequator and somewhat closer together the farther away from the equator(North or South) the CARD device is located. Should the need arise toattain even finer granularity than seconds, a fifth (Quinary) and evensixth (Senary) layer can be added to represent 10ths of seconds (˜10feet) and 100ths of seconds (˜12 inches).

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary CARDloc table including identifier, location(latitude and longitude), and optimization indices, in a CARD localmobile net in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

In particular, every time a CARD device notifies the CARD Nexus gateway300 (CARDloc) or makes an emission detection announcement, the CARDNexus gateway 300 saves that CARD's identifier, location (latitude andlongitude), and optimization indices in a CARDloc table as exemplifiedin FIG. 5.

The Lat and Lon values are normalized to be decimal degrees in the range−90.0 through +90.0 for Latitude and −180.0 through +180.0 forLongitude. The indices are computed as follows:

PrimaryX = int( round(( Lon / 10.0 ) − 0.5)) PrimaryY = int( round(( Lat/ 10.0 ) − 0.5)) SecondaryX = int( truncate( Lon − (PrimaryX * 10.0)))SecondaryY = int( truncate( Lat − (PrimaryY * 10.0))) TertiaryX = int(truncate((Lon − ((PrimaryX * 10.0) + SecondaryX )) * 60.0)) TertiaryY =int( truncate((Lat − ((PrimaryY * 10.0) + SecondaryY )) * 60.0))QuaternaryX = int( truncate((Lon − ((PrimaryX * 10.0) + SecondaryX +(TertiaryX/60.0))) * 3600.0)) QuaternaryY = int( truncate((Lat −((PrimaryY * 10.0) + SecondaryY + (TertiaryY/60.0))) * 3600.0))

These equations presume that the round( ) function always rounds an“n.5” value up, so that 0.5 becomes 1.0, 2.5 becomes 3.0, −3.5 becomes−3.0, etc. Some adjustments might be necessary to accommodate specifichardware architectures, operating systems, and compilers.

The intent, though, is to compute an index based on the lower leftcorner of the square in which the CARD is located. The primary square(Q) is a 10 degree by 10 degree square. The secondary square (R) is aone degree by one degree square located within the primary. The tertiarysquare (S) is a one minute by one minute square located within thesecondary. The quaternary square (T) is a one second by one secondsquare located within the tertiary.

These computations produce values in the following ranges:

−18 <= PrimaryX <= 18 −9 <= PrimaryY <= 9 0 <= SecondaryX <= 9 0 <=SecondaryY <= 9 0 <= TertiaryX <= 60 0 <= TertiaryY <= 60 0 <=QuaternaryX <= 60 0 <= QuaternaryY <= 60

FIG. 6 shows a matrix for primary indices for a CARD Nexus gateway 300that maintains a collection of matrices in temporary memory such asRandom Access Memory (RAM), i.e., not in a relational database, inaccordance with the principles of the present invention.

A collection of matrices in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention preferably always includes a matrix for the primaryindices, as shown in FIG. 6.

The primary matrix is preferably accompanied by a PrimaryCountindicating how many CARDS are present.

The Primary Matrix is also preferably accompanied by an array or list ofthe primary matrix elements in which CARDs can be found (list will beempty if PrimaryCount is zero).

Each element in the 36×18 Primary matrix preferably contains: (1) Acount of how many CARDs are present in that particular 10 deg×10 degarea; and (2) reference to a secondary matrix (reference will be NULL ifcount is zero).

Secondary (10×10 matrix), tertiary (60×60), and quaternary (60×60)matrices will be allocated, maintained, and eliminated as needed tomanage memory use in the CARD Nexus gateway 300.

Each secondary matrix is preferably accompanied by a SecondaryCountindicating how many CARD devices are present in that 10 deg×10 deg area.

Each secondary matrix is also preferably accompanied by an array or listof the secondary matrix elements in which CARDs can be found. (Note thatthe list will be empty if its SecondaryCount is zero.)

Each element in a 10×10 secondary matrix preferably contains: (1) countof how many CARDs are present in that particular 1 deg×1 deg area; and(2) reference to a tertiary matrix. (Note that the reference will beNULL if the count is zero).

Each tertiary matrix is preferably accompanied by a TertiaryCountindicating how many CARDs are present in that 1 deg×1 deg area.

Each tertiary matrix is preferably accompanied by an array or list ofthe tertiary matrix elements in which CARDs can be found. (Note that thelist will be empty if its TertiaryCount is zero.)

Each element in a 60×60 tertiary matrix preferably contains: (1) A countof how many CARDs are present in that particular 1 minute×1 minute area;and (2) a reference to a quaternary matrix. (Note that the referencewill be NULL if the count is zero.)

Each quaternary matrix is preferably accompanied by a QuaternaryCountindicating how many CARDs are present in that 1 min×1 min area.

Each quaternary matrix is preferably accompanied by an array or list ofthe quaternary elements in which CARDs can be found. (Note that the listwill be empty if QuaternaryCount is zero.)

Each element in a 60×60 quaternary matrix preferably contains: (1) Acount of how many CARDs are present in that particular 1 second×1 secondarea; and (2) An array or list of CARD Identifiers that are present inthe 1 sec×1 sec area. (Note that the list will be empty if count iszero.)

This four (4) tier data structure makes it possible for the CARD Nexusgateway 300 to rapidly identify all of the CARD devices in closeproximity to an announcing CARD device so that warnings can be relayedin a timely manner. Maintenance of this four (4) tier structure iscomplex but will be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill indata structures.

Proximity can be a configured reference value defined in terms ofhundreds of feet, thousands of feet, tens of miles, hundreds of miles,etc. Regardless of the defined distance for ‘proximate’, the CARD Nexusgateway 300 is able to rapidly identify which CARD devices meet thecriteria. The broader the proximity value is defined, though, the longerit will generally take the CARD Nexus gateway 300 to send all thenotifications due to latencies imposed by the carrier's core network.

The invention has particular applicability with people driving groundtransportation. Moreover, the use of a mobile area wireless networkusing cellular technology can be expanded to include the sharing ofother relevant vehicle information with proximate other vehiclescommunicating together on a cellular local area network. For instance,vehicles may advertise to other proximate vehicles that they areaccelerating, braking, emergency braking, or beginning to change lanes.This technology may also lead to the ability to foster auto-piloting ofa vehicle. Buses may advertise to their next bus stop how far away theyare and what their estimated arrival time is. Airplanes may advertise toother planes what their speed is, what their altitude is, and what theirheading is, to provide more automated collision avoidance.

While the invention has been described with reference to the exemplaryembodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to makevarious modifications to the described embodiments of the inventionwithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A first cellular augmented emission detection physical device,comprising: an emission detector to identify an emission within avicinity of a first physical cellular augmented emission detectiondevice; and a cellular transmitter to transmit a first emissionannouncement to a physical emission notification gateway; and a receiverto receive a second emission announcement from a second physicalcellular augmented emission detection device via said physical emissionnotification gateway; wherein said physical emission notificationgateway transmits said second emission announcement in response to adetermination of a shortest distance based on a length of road betweensaid first physical cellular augmented emission detection device andsaid second physical cellular augmented emission detection device. 2.The cellular augmented emission detection device according to claim 1,wherein: said second emission announcement triggers an audible warningat said first physical cellular augmented emission detection device. 3.The cellular augmented emission detection device according to claim 1,wherein said first emission announcement comprises: a phone call.
 4. Thecellular augmented emission detection device according to claim 1,wherein said first emission announcement comprises: a data packet. 5.The cellular augmented emission detection device according to claim 1,wherein said first emission announcement comprises: a call to a centraldatabase.
 6. A method of transmitting an emission detection from onecellular augmented emission detection device to another, comprising:identifying an emission within a vicinity of a first physical cellularaugmented emission detection device; transmitting, from said firstphysical cellular augmented emission detection device to a physicalemission notification gateway, a first emission announcement; andreceiving, at said first physical cellular augmented emission detectiondevice, a second emission announcement from a second physical cellularaugmented emission detection device via said physical emissionnotification gateway; wherein said physical emission notificationgateway transmits said second emission announcement in response to adetermination of a shortest distance based on a length of road betweensaid first physical cellular augmented emission detection device andsaid second physical cellular augmented emission detection device. 7.The method of transmitting an emission detection from one cellularaugmented emission detection device to another according to claim 6,further comprising: triggering an audible warning at said first physicalcellular augmented emission detection device.
 8. The method oftransmitting an emission detection from one cellular augmented emissiondetection device to another according to claim 6, wherein: saididentifying said emission identifies a laser emission detected by saidfirst physical cellular augmented emission detection device.
 9. Themethod of transmitting an emission detection from one cellular augmentedemission detection device to another according to claim 6, wherein saidtransmission of said first emission notification announcement comprises:initiating a phone call.
 10. The method of transmitting an emissiondetection from one cellular augmented emission detection device toanother according to claim 6, wherein said transmission of said firstemission announcement comprises: forming a data packet.
 11. The methodof transmitting an emission detection from one cellular augmentedemission detection device to another according to claim 6, wherein saidtransmission of said first emission announcement comprises: initiating acall to a central database.